The Body of the Queen and the Prize of Science

• This article investigates the relationship between science and nation, classand gender in the televised Nobel Banquet, held after the Nobel Prizeceremony. The representation of the body of the Swedish Queen is usedas a lens through which to view intersectional power dimensions. Drawingon cultural, media and gender studies, this article examines the mediatedpersona of the Queen in the televised Nobel Banquet via contextualisedtextual analysis.The article suggests that the purpose of the Nobel Foundation in invitingthe royals is to enhance the social status of science. But it is the Queenwho has received more TV time than anyone else – scientist or royalty –since her TV-debut in 1976. How can the camera focus on her silent bodybe interpreted in relation to science? This article suggests that the meaningof the Queen’s body also implies certain understandings of central powerdimensions. The body of the Queen signifies that gender, heterosexuality,class affiliation, nationality and race are important and normative factors inscientific discourse. At the Nobel Banquet, the representation of her bodyidentifies science as associated with the heterosexual,

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Annan samhällsvetenskap -- Genusstudier (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Other Social Sciences -- Gender Studies (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Nobel Prize

Television

Royals

Science

Gender

Media

genusvetenskap

Gender Studies

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)